The Department of Environmental Protection and its partners will hold a Weathering The Storm Workshop for Teachers on August 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m at the Beaver County Conservation District Office, 156 Cowpath Rd in Aliquippa, Beaver County.

Registration is required by July 30.

Stormwater runoff pollution is a widespread challenge for communities across Pennsylvania. In an effort to combat this problem, the Department of Environmental Protection has broadened its outreach efforts accordingly by educating educators about the issue in a series of workshops called “Weathering the Storm.”

“Stormwater runoff has no boundaries. All Pennsylvanians contribute to the problem of nonpoint source pollution getting into streams and rivers, and we all need to be part of the solution,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “Educators can help by providing children and adult learners hands-on lessons on small things they can do in their daily lives that make a big difference.” 

In 2016, DEP labeled approximately 19,900 miles of rivers and streams in Pennsylvania impaired for water supply, aquatic life, recreation, or fish consumption. Stormwater runoff pollution is one of the biggest sources of this impairment.

Over the past 100 years, roads, parking lots, sidewalks, and roofs have become a major part of our communities. As a result, rain that should naturally soak into the ground instead goes into storm drains and, from there, directly into rivers and streams.

Stormwater carries significant pollution, including sediment, car oil, lawn fertilizers, pesticides, pet poop (and viruses and bacteria), and cigarette butts.

DEP is working to raise awareness of stormwater pollution and support actions by municipalities, businesses, community organizations, and citizens to reduce it, through Growing Greener Grants, Small Business Grants, and Chesapeake Bay Watershed Stormwater Special Project Grants.

A downloadable “Be Stormwater Smart, PA” video, a stream maintenance guide for property owners, and mapping tools are currently available, while training webinars are being developed.

The DEP Environmental Education Center launched the “Weathering the Storm” series last fall, and since then has offered workshops in Dauphin, Erie, and Westmoreland counties, teaching formal and informal educators from more than 30 entities, such as Erie County; Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Indiana school districts; the Allegheny County Parks System; and Westinghouse.

DEP is partnering with Penn State Extension, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Beaver County Conservation District.

Teachers, municipal personnel, informal educators, homeschoolers, and scout and youth group leaders are invited. Teachers are eligible for Act 48 credit hours.

Please register at Ticketleap or by contacting Bert Myers, DEP Environmental Education Director, at 717-705-3767 or send email to: gimyers@pa.gov.

(Photo: NOT a good stormwater practice, obviously.)

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Take Action:

How Good Is The Water Quality In Streams In Your Community?  Take A Look, Then Act

[Posted: July 23, 2018]

7/30/2018